I wanted to share another guest post from a friend of mine.
Her words are beautiful.
I hope that it would be an encouragement to anyone grieving a loss in their life.
Blessed Be the Name of the Lord
No 23 and 24-year-old should have to bury their father. No 57-year-old should have to bury her brother. No 93-year-old should have to bury her son. No 63-year-old should be taken from this world. It just doesn’t seem fair. He was gone too soon.
Just over a week ago, I was sitting at a fast food restaurant with a close friend of mine who used to be a housemate. By the end of this week, what was once a house of nine girls will be a house of three. Over the past eight months, one by one, my friends have been moving out of the house I currently call home. Each time one leaves, it’s the same sadness over and over again. And as I lamented these loses, as well as the upcoming ones, I asked my friend, “Why does God keep taking everything from me?” But she reminded me, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:21). I had no idea that these words would become all too real just eight days later.
Last night I lost my uncle to cancer. He fought long, hard, and strong, and I honestly believed that God would heal him. When I was home for Christmas, he was looking so well. But then his last round of chemo led to an infection that destroyed his lungs. He was only 63-years-old. He was gone too soon.
Losing a loved one is never easy. It is never the “right” time for someone to leave our presence. But looking back at the situation, I can see that God is still good. A week prior to my uncle’s passing, my mom and two older sisters were in Boston with me to watch me run the Boston Marathon. God could have chosen to take my uncle while we were all away. But instead He waited until my mom returned home and gave her the opportunity to spend another week by his hospital bed. My older sister came back to California with me after the marathon to see some much needed sun. God could have chosen to take my uncle after she left, but instead He blessed me with the amazing gift of having my sister at my side when I heard the news of my uncle’s passing. It was so hard not to be with my family at the hospital during this difficult time, but having at least one member of my family with me was a huge blessing. And what a huge blessing to have the comfort and support of the amazing roommates (past and present), friends, and church community God has given me. From the time my uncle was diagnosed, they have all been praying for healing and comfort and have been a huge support for me. One of my roommates was also there with my sister and me when we found out my uncle had taken his last breath and, when I broke down in tears later that night, she was beside me to embrace me with the hug I didn’t realize I needed. As I crawled into bed in tears, another roommate came beside me and prayed. Today, after crying all the way to church, I was greeted with flowers and a card from my pastor’s wife and received condolence after condolence from other church members. What a blessing to have members of the body of Christ come together to support the mourning: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15)
While driving on the freeway the night before my uncle died, my sister was marveling at the mountains surrounding us. “There’s beauty even in the sorrow.” Life is full of sorrow. Sometimes we think we are expected to put on a smile and pretend everything is alright. But why? The shortest verse in the Bible describes Jesus doing what I’ve been doing all weekend. John 11:35 says that Jesus wept when he went to the place Lazarus had died. But why would He weep when He knew that in just a few minutes Lazarus would be raised to life again? Because Jesus knew the sorrow of Lazarus’s friends and family. He knew their pain and sympathized with them. He mourned with them in their mourning. Jesus does not turn a blind eye to our suffering. Praise be to God! He is a God that rejoices with us but also mourns with us, weeps with us, and shares in our sorrows and sufferings. We are not only allowed to feel and express our sorrow, but Jesus was the example for us that it is okay to weep. And when we do weep, Jesus will be right beside us weeping too. Blessed be the name of the Lord who comforts us in our sorrow. Blessed be the name of the Lord because even among the sorrow, there is beauty surrounding us to remind us of His goodness.
In times of trial, it’s easy to ask, “Where was God?” Prayer warriors across the country were lifting up prayers for healing. But God decided the time had come for him to go. Why didn’t He answer these cries from His children? Why was he taken from us so soon? Because the Lord gives and He takes away. But even in the taking away, I must continue to say, “Blessed be the name of the Lord.” What the Lord had given me, 27 years of wonderful memories with a loving uncle, He has now taken away. And so now, I must remember that I do not deserve anything I have been given and everything that is given to me will eventually be taken away. We are not promised anything for an eternity here on earth. I must remember to praise and thank Him for what I have while it’s here, all the while continuing to say may God’s name be blessed when it is taken away.
“What treasure waits within Your scars. This gift of freedom gold can't buy. I bought the world and sold my heart. You traded heaven to have me again…I found my life when I laid it down... I touch the sky when my knees hit the ground. Find me here at Your feet again. Everything I am, reaching out, I surrender. Come sweep me up in Your love again.” (Touch the Sky, Hillsong United)
These lyrics have been running through my head nonstop since Friday afternoon. Since purchasing the song, I’ve been playing it on repeat, and I am moved to tears every time I hear it. A life found in Jesus is so backward. We sold our heart to this world, giving into our own desires, so He gave up a perfect place in heaven to come down to save us. God willingly gave up His Son because He couldn’t imagine a life without us. Is there anyone in the world I love enough that I would sacrifice someone I dearly love, my uncle for example, for their sake? I don’t think so. But God felt that way for me. And all He asks of us is this: a life surrendered to Him. We find our life when we lay it down to Him. We touch the sky when our knees hit the ground in surrender to Him. When we fall at Jesus’ feet, He sweeps us up in His love in a tender embrace. When I mourn, He mourns with me and provides comfort from others who mourn with me as well. And when I cry He wipes the tears from my eyes and shows me beauty among the sorrow. He gives and takes away, but blessed be the name of the Lord.
- Shauna Potrawski
No 23 and 24-year-old should have to bury their father. No 57-year-old should have to bury her brother. No 93-year-old should have to bury her son. No 63-year-old should be taken from this world. It just doesn’t seem fair. He was gone too soon.
Just over a week ago, I was sitting at a fast food restaurant with a close friend of mine who used to be a housemate. By the end of this week, what was once a house of nine girls will be a house of three. Over the past eight months, one by one, my friends have been moving out of the house I currently call home. Each time one leaves, it’s the same sadness over and over again. And as I lamented these loses, as well as the upcoming ones, I asked my friend, “Why does God keep taking everything from me?” But she reminded me, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:21). I had no idea that these words would become all too real just eight days later.
Last night I lost my uncle to cancer. He fought long, hard, and strong, and I honestly believed that God would heal him. When I was home for Christmas, he was looking so well. But then his last round of chemo led to an infection that destroyed his lungs. He was only 63-years-old. He was gone too soon.
Losing a loved one is never easy. It is never the “right” time for someone to leave our presence. But looking back at the situation, I can see that God is still good. A week prior to my uncle’s passing, my mom and two older sisters were in Boston with me to watch me run the Boston Marathon. God could have chosen to take my uncle while we were all away. But instead He waited until my mom returned home and gave her the opportunity to spend another week by his hospital bed. My older sister came back to California with me after the marathon to see some much needed sun. God could have chosen to take my uncle after she left, but instead He blessed me with the amazing gift of having my sister at my side when I heard the news of my uncle’s passing. It was so hard not to be with my family at the hospital during this difficult time, but having at least one member of my family with me was a huge blessing. And what a huge blessing to have the comfort and support of the amazing roommates (past and present), friends, and church community God has given me. From the time my uncle was diagnosed, they have all been praying for healing and comfort and have been a huge support for me. One of my roommates was also there with my sister and me when we found out my uncle had taken his last breath and, when I broke down in tears later that night, she was beside me to embrace me with the hug I didn’t realize I needed. As I crawled into bed in tears, another roommate came beside me and prayed. Today, after crying all the way to church, I was greeted with flowers and a card from my pastor’s wife and received condolence after condolence from other church members. What a blessing to have members of the body of Christ come together to support the mourning: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15)
While driving on the freeway the night before my uncle died, my sister was marveling at the mountains surrounding us. “There’s beauty even in the sorrow.” Life is full of sorrow. Sometimes we think we are expected to put on a smile and pretend everything is alright. But why? The shortest verse in the Bible describes Jesus doing what I’ve been doing all weekend. John 11:35 says that Jesus wept when he went to the place Lazarus had died. But why would He weep when He knew that in just a few minutes Lazarus would be raised to life again? Because Jesus knew the sorrow of Lazarus’s friends and family. He knew their pain and sympathized with them. He mourned with them in their mourning. Jesus does not turn a blind eye to our suffering. Praise be to God! He is a God that rejoices with us but also mourns with us, weeps with us, and shares in our sorrows and sufferings. We are not only allowed to feel and express our sorrow, but Jesus was the example for us that it is okay to weep. And when we do weep, Jesus will be right beside us weeping too. Blessed be the name of the Lord who comforts us in our sorrow. Blessed be the name of the Lord because even among the sorrow, there is beauty surrounding us to remind us of His goodness.
In times of trial, it’s easy to ask, “Where was God?” Prayer warriors across the country were lifting up prayers for healing. But God decided the time had come for him to go. Why didn’t He answer these cries from His children? Why was he taken from us so soon? Because the Lord gives and He takes away. But even in the taking away, I must continue to say, “Blessed be the name of the Lord.” What the Lord had given me, 27 years of wonderful memories with a loving uncle, He has now taken away. And so now, I must remember that I do not deserve anything I have been given and everything that is given to me will eventually be taken away. We are not promised anything for an eternity here on earth. I must remember to praise and thank Him for what I have while it’s here, all the while continuing to say may God’s name be blessed when it is taken away.
“What treasure waits within Your scars. This gift of freedom gold can't buy. I bought the world and sold my heart. You traded heaven to have me again…I found my life when I laid it down... I touch the sky when my knees hit the ground. Find me here at Your feet again. Everything I am, reaching out, I surrender. Come sweep me up in Your love again.” (Touch the Sky, Hillsong United)
These lyrics have been running through my head nonstop since Friday afternoon. Since purchasing the song, I’ve been playing it on repeat, and I am moved to tears every time I hear it. A life found in Jesus is so backward. We sold our heart to this world, giving into our own desires, so He gave up a perfect place in heaven to come down to save us. God willingly gave up His Son because He couldn’t imagine a life without us. Is there anyone in the world I love enough that I would sacrifice someone I dearly love, my uncle for example, for their sake? I don’t think so. But God felt that way for me. And all He asks of us is this: a life surrendered to Him. We find our life when we lay it down to Him. We touch the sky when our knees hit the ground in surrender to Him. When we fall at Jesus’ feet, He sweeps us up in His love in a tender embrace. When I mourn, He mourns with me and provides comfort from others who mourn with me as well. And when I cry He wipes the tears from my eyes and shows me beauty among the sorrow. He gives and takes away, but blessed be the name of the Lord.
- Shauna Potrawski
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